Companies Act 2006

[F1 CHAPTER 1 U.K. Introduction

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 21A inserted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2016 except for the insertion of ss. 790M(9)(c), 790W-790ZE and 30.6.2016 so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 3 para. 1; S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(a); S.I. 2015/2029, regs. 4(a), 5(a)

790A Overview U.K.

This Part is arranged as follows—

(a) the remaining provisions of this Chapter identify the companies to which this Part applies and explain some key terms, including what it means to have “significant control” over a company,

(b) Chapter 2 imposes duties on companies to gather information, and on others to supply information, to enable companies to [F2 keep the register required by Chapter 3] [F2 notify the registrar of the information in accordance with Chapter 2A],

[F3 (c) Chapter 3 requires companies to keep a register, referred to as a register of people with significant control over the company, and to make the register available to the public,

(d) Chapter 4 gives private companies the option of using an alternative method of record-keeping, and]

[F3 (c) Chapter 2A requires companies to notify the registrar of information relating to persons with significant control;]

(e) Chapter 5 makes provision for excluding certain material from the information available to the public.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 790A(b) substituted (26.10.2023 but only so far as it confers a power to make regulations or relates to the exercise of the power, otherwise prosp.) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 8(a)

F3 S. 790A(c) substituted for s. 790A(c)(d) (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 8(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(z10)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 790A applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2009/1804, reg. 31A (as inserted (6.4.2016) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/340), regs. 1(3), 3, Sch. 1)

790B Companies to which this Part applies U.K.

(1) This Part applies to companies other than—

[F4 (a) companies with voting shares admitted to trading on a [F5 UK regulated market or an EU regulated market], and]

(b) companies of any description specified by the Secretary of State by regulations.

(2) In deciding whether to specify a description of company, the Secretary of State is to have regard to the extent to which companies of that description are bound by disclosure and transparency rules (in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) [F6 which are contained in international standards and are equivalent to those applicable to companies referred to in subsection (1)(a)] .

F7 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Regulations under this section are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

[F8 (5) In this section—

• “voting shares” means shares carrying voting rights;

• “voting rights” means rights to vote at general meetings of the company in question, including rights that arise only in certain circumstances.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 790B(1)(a) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 5(2) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

F5 Words in s. 790B(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnerships (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/348), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 10; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in s. 790B(2) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 5(3) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

F7 S. 790B(3) omitted (26.6.2017) by virtue of The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 5(4) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

F8 S. 790B(5) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 5(5) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

790C Key terms U.K.

(1) This section explains some key terms used in this Part.

(2) References to a person with (or having) “significant control” over a company are to an individual who meets one or more of the specified conditions in relation to the company.

(3) The “specified conditions” are those specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1A.

(4) Individuals with significant control over a company are either “registrable” or “ non-registrable ” in relation to the company—

[F9 (a) they are “non-registrable” if they do not hold any interest in the company except through one or more legal entities over each of which they have significant control and—

(i) as respects any shares or right in the company which they hold indirectly as described in paragraph 9(1)(b)(i) of Schedule 1A, the legal entity through which the shares or right are held is a relevant legal entity in relation to the company; and

(ii) as respects any shares or right in the company which they hold indirectly as described in paragraph 9(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 1A, at least one of the legal entities in the chain is a relevant legal entity in relation to the company]

(b) otherwise, they are “registrable”,

and references to a “ registrable person ” in relation to a company are to an individual with significant control over the company who is registrable in relation to that company.

(5) A “legal entity” is a body corporate or a firm that is a legal person under the law by which it is governed.

(6) In relation to a company, a legal entity is a “relevant legal entity” if—

(a) it would have come within the definition of a person with significant control over the company if it had been an individual, and

(b) it is subject to its own disclosure requirements.

(7) A legal entity is “subject to its own disclosure requirements” if—

(a) this Part applies to it (whether by virtue of section 790B or another enactment that extends the application of this Part),

[F10 (aa) it is an eligible Scottish partnership within the meaning of regulation 3(2) of the Scottish Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2017.]

[F11 (b) it has voting shares admitted to trading on a [F12 UK regulated market or an EU regulated market,]]

(c) it is of a description specified in regulations under section 790B (or that section as extended), or

(d) it is of a description specified by the Secretary of State by regulations made under this paragraph.

(8) A relevant legal entity is either “registrable” or “ non-registrable ” in relation to a company—

[F13 (a) it is “non-registrable” if it does not hold any interest in the company except through one or more other legal entities over each of which it has significant control and—

(i) as respects any shares or right in the company which it holds indirectly as described in paragraph 9(1)(b)(i) of Schedule 1A, the legal entity through which the shares or right are held is also a relevant legal entity in relation to the company; and

(ii) as respects any shares or right in the company which it holds indirectly as described in paragraph 9(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 1A, at least one of the legal entities in the chain is also a relevant legal entity in relation to the company;]

(b) otherwise, it is “registrable”,

and references to a “ registrable relevant legal entity ” in relation to a company are to a relevant legal entity which is registrable in relation to that company.

(9) For the purposes of subsections (4) and (8)—

(a) whether someone—

(i) holds an interest in a company, or

(ii) holds that interest through another legal entity,

is to be determined in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 1A;

(b) whether someone has significant control over that other legal entity is to be determined in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) and Part 1 of Schedule 1A, reading references in those provisions to the company as references to that other entity.

[F14 (10) The register that a company is required to keep under section 790M (register of people with significant control over a company) is referred to as the company's “PSC register”.]

(11) In deciding whether to specify a description of legal entity under paragraph (d) of subsection (7), the Secretary of State is to have regard to the extent to which entities of that description are bound by disclosure and transparency rules (in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) [F15 equivalent] to the ones applying to an entity falling within any other paragraph of that subsection.

(12) Subject to express provision in this Part and to any modification prescribed by regulations under this subsection, this Part is to be read and have effect as if each of the following were an individual, even if they are legal persons under the laws by which they are governed—

(a) a corporation sole,

(b) a government or government department of a country or territory or a part of a country or territory,

(c) an international organisation whose members include two or more countries or territories (or their governments),

(d) a local authority or local government body in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(13) Regulations under subsection (7)(d) are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

(14) Subject to subsection (13), regulations under this section are subject to negative resolution procedure.

[F16 (15) In this section “voting shares” has the same meaning as in section 790B.]

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 790C(4)(a) substituted (5.4.2016) by The Companies Act 2006 (Amendment of Part 21A) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/136), regs. 1(2), 2(a)

F10 S. 790C(7)(aa) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Scottish Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/694), regs. 1(1), 78 (with reg. 80)

F11 S. 790C(7)(b) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 6(2) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

F12 Words in s. 790C(7)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnerships (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/348), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 11; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F13 S. 790C(8)(a) substituted (5.4.2016) by The Companies Act 2006 (Amendment of Part 21A) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/136), regs. 1(2), 2(b)

F14 S. 790C(10) omitted (26.10.2023 but only so far as it confers a power to make regulations or relates to the exercise of the power, otherwise prosp.) by virtue of Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 9

F15 Word in s. 790C(11) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 6(3) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

F16 S. 790C(15) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 6(4) (with Sch. Pt. 1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Ss. 790C-790K applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2009/2436, Sch. 1 para. 12A (as inserted (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 33 (with Sch. Pt. 3))

C3 S. 790C applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2009/1804, reg. 31B (as inserted (6.4.2016) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/340), regs. 1(3), 3, Sch. 1) (as amended (26.6.2017) by The Information about People with Significant Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/693), regs. 2, 24 (with Sch. Pt. 2) and as amended (31.12.2020) by The Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnerships (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/348), reg. 2, Sch. 3 para. 24; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))

C4 S. 790C(7) amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2009/1804, reg. 31B (26.6.2017) by The Scottish Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/694), regs. 1(1), 79 (with reg. 80)

[F17 790CA References to “confirmation” etc of information U.K.

For the purposes of this Part a company has had confirmation of—

(a) a person’s status as a registrable person or a registrable relevant legal entity in relation to the company,

(b) the required particulars of a person (see section 790K), or

(c) any other information about a person,

if the person has supplied that information to the company whether or not in pursuance of any duty imposed by this Part (and references to a company obtaining confirmation of information are to be read accordingly).]]

Textual Amendments

F17 S. 790CA inserted (26.10.2023 but only so far as it confers a power to make regulations or relates to the exercise of the power, otherwise prosp.) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 10